New bridge could take you to one of Texas' top beaches
Could a new bridge soon give Corpus Christi drivers another way to connect to North Padre Island? The Texas Department of Transportation is currently weighing options for a potential second causeway between the island and the largest coastal city in South Texas.
It's all part of something called the Regional Parkway North Padre Island Project - a proposal that's been discussed for at least the last 30 years. Recently, however, TxDOT revealed that it has narrowed the number of options for a potential new causeway from five down to two. And now, they want the public's input on which option would be best.
What is the Regional Parkway North Padre Island Project?
The North Padre Island Regional Parkway Project is a plan to create a new transportation route between Corpus Christi and North Padre Island as population growth creates increased traffic congestion and an uptick in vehicular crashes. Not only is Corpus Christi the largest city on the South Texas coast, it is also home to the sixth-largest port in the United States, according to TxDOT.
Why is another causeway needed in Corpus Christi?
Currently, the John F. Kennedy Memorial Causeway is the only direct route between the mainland and North Padre Island (and Mustang Island beyond). That means it's the only option for motorists looking to drive themselves to Port Aransas or the Padre Island National Seashore . TxDOT projects the Nueces County population to grow by more than 4% by 2060 and the Kleberg County population to grow by more than 21%.
TxDOT operates a 24-hour ferry system capable of taking people and their cars from the mainland to Port Aransas, but it's located about 18 miles north of the JFK Causeway. And each ferry boat can only accommodate about 20 vehicles at a time, which can lead to long wait times during peak tourist season. Another bridge would also offer an alternative route off the island that residents could use in the event of a hurricane evacuation.
Where could the new North Padre Island causeway be located?
Initially, TxDOT was considering five potential route options for the new North Padre Island Regional Parkway, including ones that would have cut through both Nueces and Kleberg counties. But now, the state transportation agency has narrowed those options down to two.
The first option - what TxDOT refers to as the "Green Alternative" - would follow the existing route of the JFK Memorial Causeway along Texas 358/Park Road 22 from Flour Bluff to the island.
The second option, called the "Orange Alternative," would create a new route from the intersection of Texas 286 and County Road 18 to a point on the island south of Padre Balli Park. Both proposed routes would lie entirely inside Nueces County.
What routes has TxDOT rejected?
TxDOT has rejected three other route proposals due to "community input and design challenges," as well as impacts to the historic King Ranch.
The so-called "Purple Alternative" would have been located along Yorktown Boulevard but would have required "numerous residential, business and community displacements," and would have impacted a fire station, local parks and churches, and a power substation. The so-called "Blue and Pink Alternatives" would have cut through King Ranch, which straddles Nueces and Kleberg counties and which is protected by the National Historical Preservation Act. Further, land in that region is "environmentally sensitive," TxDOT said.
When will the second North Padre Island Causeway be built?
There's no timeline for when the proposed Regional Parkway North Padre Island project could begin construction, nor are there any cost estimates. TxDOT officials say they will continue to evaluate and "refine" the two remaining route proposals. But the agency is inviting the public to provide input on the project.
This article originally published at New bridge could take you to one of Texas' top beaches .
